The causative diseases, common comorbidities and surgical procedures of 948 cases of horizontal sensory strabismus

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the common causes, onset age of vision impairment and complications of sensory strabismus, and to explore the effective surgical methods for sensory strabismus and associated complications. Methods: In this retrospective study, there were 948 cases of surgical treatment for sensory strabismus from 2005 to 2015 in Tianjin Eye Hospital, including 822 cases of sensory exotropia and 126 cases of sensory esotropia. Causative disease, onset age of vision impairment, eye movement, horizontal and vertical deviation and surgical methods were evaluated. Statistical methods included independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test and chi-squared test. Results: Congenital or traumatic cataract was the most common cause of sensory strabismus. Anisometropia, optic atrophy, corneal opacity and retinal detachment were also primary reasons. The mean onset age of vision impairment was (2.3±4.2) years in the sensory esotropia group and (8.8±9.0) years in the exotropia group, and a positive correlation was found between the two groups (t=-8.00, P<0.01). Sensory strabismus occurred with A- or V-pattern in 100 cases (10.5%), nystagmus in 42 cases (5.1%), DVD in 57 cases (6%) and oblique overaction in 134 cases (14.1%;including 54 cases with A- or V-pattern). No statistically significant difference existed between the relevance ratio of A- or V-pattern, oblique overaction and the type of strabismus (χ(2)=0.13, 0.04; P>0.05), but significance difference existed between the relevance ratio of nystagmus, DVD and the type of strabismus (χ(2)=48.33, 12.04; P<0.01). Conclusions: The leading cause of sensory strabismus was cataract. The onset age of vision impairment was earlier in the sensory esotropia group than the exotropia group. Patients were more likely to suffer from DVD and nystagmus in the sensory esotropia group than the exotropia group. Surgeons should make a comprehensive assessment before surgery to design a rational surgical procedure. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2018, 54: 283-287).